Conservation of Plastics and Rubbers in Museum Collections Workshop
Repairing scratches on Wilderom's Vrijstaande Konstructie K.U.B.1, 1974 (RCE Collection) made of poly (methyl methacrylate). Courtesy: Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE)
The Conservation of Plastics and Rubbers in Museum Collections workshop, which took place July 16–20, 2018, at the Conservation Center, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, was the first in an ongoing series dedicated to the conservation and preservation of plastics and rubbers in museum collections.
The program drew from the extensive experience of workshop instructors, conservator Anna Laganà and conservation scientist Thea van Oosten, and from recent research conducted as part of the Conservation Institute's Preservation of Plastics project.
Class Content
The workshop combined theory and practice through lectures, practical sessions, and group discussions.
Lectures focused on the history of plastics, their chemical and physical properties, manufacturing processes, degradation phenomena, identification, the latest scientific research and treatment studies, and preventive conservation guidelines. Theory sessions were integrated with practical sessions including demonstrations, applied exercises, and group discussions. Practice was dedicated to the recognition of plastics and the impact on them caused by solvents, cleaning, adhering, consolidation, and filling, as well as the effects of encapsulating rubber objects.
Focused on the conservation of three-dimensional objects, the workshop was particularly targeted toward conservators of objects; however, conservators from other disciplines were welcome to attend.
Participants were invited to bring nonaccessioned objects or images of objects in order to discuss the challenges they are encountering with plastics materials and their care.
Objectives
- Familiarize participants with various plastics materials produced throughout history
- Improve participants' theoretical background on the conservation of plastics
- Improve participants' practical skills on the treatment of plastics
- Develop critical thinking skills that will help participants to estimate risks, establish suitable approaches into the preservation of plastics objects, and design appropriate conservation treatments for their conservation
Instructors
Anna Laganà, Senior Research Specialist, Getty Conservation Institute Thea van Oosten, Conservation Scientist, The Netherlands
Facilitator
Stéphanie Auffret, Senior Project Specialist, Getty Conservation Institute